Unloading device



Patented oa. 1s, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE UNLOADING DEVICE xm F. v. Numa. Philadelphia, n., mmm u Zelma R. Everett, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application Maren 7, 193s, serial No. 194.345

' `1 claim. (ci. azi-101) My invention relates to a new and useful unloading device and it relates more particularly to an unloading device adapted for the gradual removal of the contents of a vacuum sealed re- 5 ceptacle in gradual predetermined quantities without admitting any substantial amount of air into the receptacle, thus preserving the contents thereof in their freshly packed state free from contamination or deterioration.

The construction and operation of my unloading device will be more fully explained in the following specication and the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of the un- --1oading device shown applied to the top of a receptacle such as a bottle.

Fig. 2 represents a plan view of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 represent views similar to Fig. 1 showing different steps in the operation of the device.

Figs. 5 and 6 represent v iews similar to Fig.- 1 showing modied forms of construction.

Referring to the drawing in which like reference characters indicate like parts, and more particularly to Fig. 1, 8 designates a block having a through opening I0 extending vertically therethrough. 'I'he block 8 is also provided with a horizontal bore I2 which intersects the bore I0.

In the bore I2 is positioned the revoluble sleevel I4 which is provided with the flange I6 serving as a handle which extends beyond the block `8. The revoluble sleeve I4 is provided with an opening I8 in a wall thereof which opening is adapted to register with the bore I0 as the sleeve I4 is rotated, all as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. The sleeve I4 is provided with the solid end 2|) which seats in the recess 22 formed in the adjacent wall of the block 8 and which also abuts against the block 8 in substantially air-tight manner. Within the sleeve I4 is positioned the plunger 24 which is provided with the handle 26 projecting beyond the ange I6. The plunger 24 is adapted to ilt within the sleeve I4 in a substantially air-tight manner. The bottom side of the block, as viewed in Fig. 1, is provided with a recess 28 which is adapted to receive snugly the rubber cap 30. Carried by the sleeve I4, and projecting slightly below the lower edge thereof 0 is the cutter 32. 34 designates a bottle or similar receptacle which has been lled with any suitablel material under a vacuum and the mouth of which is closed by the cap 36 which may be made of cellophane. rubber or any other easily cut material.

The operation of the device described is as follows:

Assuming that it is desired to unload the contents of the receptacle 34 without admitting air thereinto, I rst insert the mouth of the bottle 5 34 into the rubber cap 30 which fits thereover in an air-tight manner. In so doing the cutter 32 pierces the seal 33, and by rotation of the receptacle 34 the seal is entirely cut out. The device is preferably turned up-side-down as 10 shown in Fig. 3 so that the contents of the receptacle may fall by gravity and the handle I6 is turned until the opening I8 in the wall of the sleeve I4 registers with the upper end of the bore I0. The plunger 24 is then withdrawn, as shown 15 in Fig. 3, and some of the. contents of the receptacle 34 will fall into the chamber 38 which is formed in the sleeve I4 by the withdrawal of the plunger 24. In this position the solid wall of the sleeve I4 closes the other end of the bore zu I0 as best seen in Fig. 3. With the plunger 24 still in its outer position the handle I3 is again turned to bring the solid wall of the sleeve I4 into registration with the end of the bore I0 to .which the mouth of the receptacle 34 is applied and this also brings the opening I8 in the sleeve I4 into registration with the lower end of the bore I3. This establishes communication between the chamber 38 and the outside so that the contents of the chamber 38 are now permitted so to drop into any desired receptacle such as a cup, spoon, or the like, all as best seen in Fig.4. If desired the plunger 24 can be provided with markings 48 which indicate the size of the chamber 33 formed by the withdrawal of the plunger and which therefore predetermine the amount of material being withdrawn by each stroke of the plunger. vAlso, I may use suitable markings 44 and 42, placed on the revoluble sleeve-I4 and the block 8 respectively to indicate the relative positions of the sleeve I4 and the block 8 respectively, and the consequent registration or lack of registration of the opening I8 at either end of the bore I0. In lieu of themarkings 42 and 44 I may use internal stops so that, when the handle I6 is turned in one direction as far as it will go, the opening I8 of the sleeve lI4 will register with one end of the bore I0 and with the mouth of the receptacle 34 as shown in Fig. 3,

and, when the handle IB is turned in the oppomwill thus be seen that the opposite ends ot the bore I8 are alternately opened and closed so that when the end of the bore Il registering with the opening I8 is open to permit discharge of the contents thereoi', the other` end of the bore'V I8 is closed to prevent the entry or air into the chamber 88. After the contents of the chamber 88 have been discharged in the position illustrated in Fig. 4, the plunger 24 is again returned to the position shown in Fig. 1 in which it drives out any air that may have entered the chamber 38 while the contents thereof were being discharged.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a slightly modified form of construction in which I remove a portion of the end wall of the block 8 and replace it by the plug which is threaded to the rest of the block 8 at 48. Through the plug 46 I extend the screw bolt which is provided with the wing nut or the like 52. 'The end wall 54 of the sleeve I4 is secured by the screw 56 to the plate 51 which sits in a recess in the plug 45, and between the plug 48 and the wall 54 is positioned the head 58 oi.' Ithe screw bolt 50. In this construction the sleeve I4 is tapered with its largest diameter being near the handle or iiange I6. and by turning the wing nut 52 I may draw the tapered sleeve I4 tightly within the correspondingly tapered, horizontal bore I2 of the block 8 thus eecting a tighter engagement.

In Fig. 6 I have shown substantially the sam construction as that shown in Fig. 5 except tha the plate 51 which receives the screws 55 als serves as the head of the bolt 50. In this con struction I have shown the device as applied ti the mouth of an inverted can 50. The operatior oi the modiiied forms shown in Figs. 5 and 6 i: identically the same as that described in connection with Figs. l to 4.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In an unloading device of the character stated. a body portion having a through-bore therein, one end of said bore serving as an inlet and the other endv oi said bore serving as an outlet, an annular resilient seal at the inlet end oi said bore for engaging in air-tight manner the discharge end of a hermetically sealed receptacle the content of which is to be unloaded, a cut-l ter carried by said body portion in proximity to said inlet end and projecting into said seal ior breaking the seal at the discharge end of said receptacle,l a sleeve rotatably mounted within said casing, there being an opening in a wall oi said sleeve adapted to register with the inlet or outlet in said body portion at will, and a slidably mounted plunger snugly iitting within and normally completely filling said sleeve.

KARL F. V. NYGAARD. 

